Novel multifunctional condiment device and catering apparatus

ABSTRACT

Multifunctional condiment device and catering apparatus includes a condiment cabinet, a condiment accommodating portion, a fruit accommodating portion, a disinfecting portion, and a fresh-keeping portion. The condiment cabinet is provided with a first transverse plate configured to divide the condiment cabinet into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, both the condiment accommodating portion and the fruit accommodating portion are disposed in the upper chamber, and both the disinfecting portion and the fresh-keeping portion are disposed in the lower chamber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201811186287.6, filed with the Chinese Patent Office on Oct. 10, 2018, entitled “Novel Multifunctional Condiment Device and Catering Apparatus”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of catering devices, and in particular to a novel multifunctional condiment device and a catering apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

With the development of modern society, people's individualization has become increasingly prominent, and the differentiation among tastes has also become more and more significant. At present, in the catering industry, especially buffet caterings, such as hot pot, food cooked on skewers, soup pot, spicy hot pot and the like, a variety of condiments (or flavorings) are often supplied by the merchants themselves to allow users to season as needed.

However, the conventional condiment table configured to hold condiments to be taken and used by users has a single function and occupies a wide area, which seriously affects the business profit of the merchant.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a novel multifunctional condiment device, which comprises a condiment cabinet, a condiment accommodating portion, a fruit accommodating portion, a disinfecting portion, and a fresh-keeping portion, wherein the condiment cabinet is provided with a first transverse plate configured to divide the condiment cabinet into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, both the condiment accommodating portion and the fruit accommodating portion are disposed in the upper chamber, and both the disinfecting portion and the fresh-keeping portion are disposed in the lower chamber.

Optionally, the fresh-keeping portion comprises a freezer, a first cooler, and a compressor, the first cooler is disposed in the freezer and configured to cool the freezer, and the compressor is connected to the first cooler.

Optionally, the upper chamber is provided with a first partition configured to divide the upper chamber into a first upper chamber and a second upper chamber, the condiment accommodating portion is disposed in the first upper chamber, and the fruit accommodating portion is disposed in the second upper chamber.

Optionally, the second upper chamber comprises a first sub-chamber that is flush with the first upper chamber, the fruit accommodating portion is disposed above the first sub-chamber, the fruit accommodating portion is provided with at least one first vent hole, the first partition is provided with at least one second vent hole, the novel multifunctional condiment device is further provided with a second cooler located in the first sub-chamber, and the second cooler is connected to the compressor and configured to cool the fruit accommodating portion and the condiment accommodating portion via the first vent hole and the second vent hole, respectively.

Optionally, the second cooler cools the fruit accommodating portion and the condiment accommodating portion by means of air cooling, respectively.

Optionally, a second partition is connected between the first transverse plate and a bottom plate of the condiment cabinet, the second partition divides the lower chamber into a first lower chamber and a second lower chamber, the disinfecting portion is disposed in the first lower chamber, and the fresh-keeping portion is disposed in the second lower chamber.

Optionally, the second lower chamber is provided with a third partition, the third partition is configured to divide the second lower chamber into a second lower front chamber and a second lower rear chamber, the freezer is disposed in the second lower front chamber, and the compressor is disposed in the second lower rear chamber.

Optionally, the first lower chamber is provided with a fourth partition, the fourth partition is configured to divide the first lower chamber into a first lower front chamber and a first lower rear chamber, the disinfecting portion comprises a disinfection cabinet, a circulation fan, and a heat-generating device, the disinfection cabinet is disposed in the first lower front chamber, both the heat-generating device and the circulation fan are disposed in the first lower rear chamber, the fourth partition is provided with at least one third vent hole, and the circulation fan is connected to the heat-generating device and configured to supply circulating air to the disinfection cabinet through the third vent hole.

Optionally, an area of the back plate of the condiment cabinet that is corresponding to the second lower rear chamber is provided with at least one heat-discharging hole, and an area of the bottom plate of the condiment cabinet that is corresponding to the first lower front chamber is provided with at least one drainage hole.

Optionally, a heat insulating material is disposed in a peripheral wall of the condiment cabinet.

Optionally, each of the peripheral wall of condiment cabinet, the first transverse plate, the first partition, the second partition, and the third partition has a cavity structure, and each cavity is filled with the heat insulating material.

Optionally, the disinfection cabinet is provided with a swing door, the swing door comprises an outer door and an inner door sequentially arranged from the outside to the inside, and the outer door and the inner door are connected to a cabinet body of the disinfection cabinet, respectively.

Optionally, the disinfection cabinet is provided with insertion slots for receiving the outer door and the inner door, respectively, and the outer door and the inner door are hinged to an outer wall of the disinfection cabinet, and are slidably moved in and out of the insertion slots.

Optionally, a bracket is disposed in the disinfection cabinet, and the bracket is configured to hold, at each of multiple mounting positions, a storage rack configured to store tableware.

Optionally, the storage rack is a dish basket, and the dish basket has a slide rail and is slidably held in one mounting position.

Optionally, the novel multifunctional condiment device further comprises a first temperature controller, a second temperature controller, and a third temperature controller;

the first temperature controller is located between the freezer and the first cooler and configured to control a temperature of the freezer, the second temperature controller is located between the condiment accommodating portion and the second cooler and configured to control a temperature of the bottom of the condiment accommodating portion, and the third temperature controller is located between the fruit accommodating portion and the second cooler and configured to control a temperature of the bottom of the fruit accommodating portion.

Optionally, the condiment accommodating portion is provided with a first groove configured to place a condiment receptacle and a first cover plate configured to cover the condiment receptacle, and the fruit accommodating portion is provided with a second groove configured to place a fruit receptacle and a second cover plate configured to cover the fruit receptacle.

Optionally, the first cover plate is rotatably or slidably held on the condiment accommodating portion, and the second cover plate is rotatably or slidably held on the fruit accommodating portion.

Optionally, the bottom of the condiment cabinet is provided with rollers, and the rollers are connected to the condiment cabinet.

The present disclosure further provides a catering apparatus, comprising the novel multifunctional condiment device described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly illustrate technical solutions of embodiments of the present disclosure, drawings required for use in the embodiments will be described briefly below. It is to be understood that the drawings below are merely illustrative of some embodiments of the present disclosure, and therefore should not be considered as limiting its scope. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that other relevant drawings can also be obtained from these drawings without any inventive effort.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a novel multifunctional condiment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure at a first viewing angle;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a novel multifunctional condiment device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure at a second viewing angle;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a novel multifunctional condiment device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure at a third viewing angle;

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a novel multifunctional condiment device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure at a fourth viewing angle; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view of a novel multifunctional condiment device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure at a fifth viewing angle.

Reference Numerals: 100—novel multifunctional condiment device; 10—condiment cabinet; 101—left side plate; 102—right side plate; 103—back plate; 104—top plate; 105—bottom plate; 106—first transverse plate; 11—condiment accommodating portion; 111—first groove; 112—first cover plate; 12—fruit accommodating portion; 121—second groove; 122—second cover plate; 123—first vent hole; 13—disinfecting portion; 131—disinfection cabinet; 1311—bracket; 1312—storage rack; 1313—swing door; 1314—outer door; 1315—inner door; 1316—insertion slot; 132—circulating fan; 133—heat-generating device; 134—timer; 135—temperature controller; 14—fresh-keeping portion; 141—freezer; 142—first cooler; 143—compressor; 144—air duct; 145—second cooler; 21—upper chamber; 211—first upper chamber; 212—second upper chamber; 2121—first sub-chamber; 215—first partition; 2151—second vent hole; 22—lower chamber; 221—first lower chamber; 2211—first lower front chamber; 2212—first lower rear chamber; 2215—fourth partition; 2217—third vent hole; 222—second lower chamber; 2221—second lower front chamber; 2222—second lower rear chamber; 2225—third partition; 225—second partition; 30—table top; 31—notch; 40—heat-discharging hole; 51—first temperature controller; 52—second temperature controller; 53—third temperature controller; 60—drainage hole; 70—heat insulating material; 80—roller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In order to make the objects, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure more clear, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below clearly and comprehensively with reference to the drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure. It is apparent that the embodiments described below are only some, but not all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the present disclosure, as described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations.

Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present disclosure provided in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the present disclosure. All the other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the embodiments of the present disclosure without inventive efforts will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as claimed.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that orientation or positional relationships indicated by the terms such as “up”, “down”, “inside”, and “outside” are the orientation or positional relationships shown based on the figures, or the orientation or positional relationships in which the product of the present disclosure is conventionally placed in use, and these terms are intended only to facilitate the description of the present disclosure and simplify the description, but not intended to indicate or imply that the referred devices or elements must be in a particular orientation or constructed or operated in the particular orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure. In addition, terms such as “first” and “second” are used for distinguishing the description only, and should not be understood as an indication or implication of relative importance.

In addition, the term “vertical” or the like does not mean that a component is required to be absolutely vertical, but means that the component may be slightly inclined. For example, the term “vertical” simply means that its orientation is more vertical than the term “horizontal”, and does not mean that the structure must be perfect vertical, but means that the structure may be slightly inclined.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should also be noted that the terms “dispose”, “mount”, and “connect” should be understood broadly unless otherwise expressly specified or defined. For example, connection may be fixed connection or detachable connection or integral connection, may be mechanical connection or electric connection, or may be direct coupling or indirect coupling via an intermediate medium or internal communication between two elements. The specific meanings of the above-mentioned terms in the present disclosure can be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art according to specific situations.

Detailed description will be made below in connection with an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 together, the novel multifunctional condiment device 100 involved in the present embodiment comprises a condiment cabinet 10, a condiment accommodating portion 11, a fruit accommodating portion 12, a disinfecting portion 13, and a fresh-keeping portion 14.

The condiment cabinet 10 comprises a left side plate 101, a right side plate 102, a back plate 103, a top plate 104, and a bottom plate 105, wherein the top plate 104 is parallel to the bottom plate 105, the left side plate 101 is parallel to the right side plate 102, and the four sides of the back plate 103 are connected to the left side plate 101, the right side plate 102, the top plate 104, and the bottom plate 105, respectively.

The novel multifunctional condiment device 100 is provided with a first transverse plate 106 configured to divide the condiment cabinet 10 into an upper chamber 21 and a lower chamber 22, wherein both the condiment accommodating portion 11 and the fruit accommodating portion 12 are disposed in the upper chamber 21, and both the disinfecting portion 13 and the fresh-keeping portion 14 are disposed in the lower chamber 22.

The condiment accommodating portion 11 is provided with a first groove 111 configured to place a condiment receptacle and a first cover plate 112 configured to cover the condiment receptacle. The condiment receptacle may be, for example, a component configured to store a condiment, such as a condiment bucket, a condiment basin, a condiment jar, a condiment cup, a condiment bowl, or the like.

It can be understood that the shape of the condiment accommodating portion 11, i.e., the shape of the cross section of the first groove 111 is not particularly limited in the present embodiment, and may be a circle, square, rectangle or other shape, and may be specifically set according to actual needs.

The number of the first grooves 111 may preferably be plural, for example, 12, 16, or 20, or may be 6, 8, 10 or the like, but it is not excluded that only one is provided, and the number of the first grooves may be specially set according to different merchants' requirements. One condiment receptacle is placed in each of the first grooves 111, the multiple first grooves 111 may be arranged in the condiment accommodating portion 11 in multiple rows (along the length direction of the novel multifunctional condiment device 100) and in multiple columns (along the width direction of the novel multifunctional condiment device 100), a distance between two adjacent first grooves 111 in the same row is constant, and a distance between two adjacent first grooves 111 in the same column is also constant.

Optionally, in the present embodiment, the first cover plate 112 may be of a push-pull type (for example, implemented by a slide rail), or may be of a flip type (for example, implemented by hinged connection), or may also be directly in a detachable cover type. An outer surface of the first cover plate 112 may be, for example, further provided with a grip, such as in the form of a handle, a boss, a tab, a hook or the like, to facilitate the user's operation to control the covering state of the first cover plate 112 to the condiment receptacle.

It is worth noting that, in the present disclosure, the first cover plate 112 may be a unified piece of cover plate to enable the multiple condiment receptacles to be covered or opened simultaneously, or one first cover plate 112 may be correspondingly provided for each of the condiment receptacles to control covering or opening of different condiment receptacles, respectively.

The fruit accommodating portion 12 is provided with a second groove 121 configured to place a fruit receptacle and a second cover plate 122 configured to cover the fruit receptacle. The fruit receptacle may be, for example, a component configured to store fruit, such as a fruit bucket, a fruit basin, a fruit jar, a fruit cup, a fruit bowl, or the like.

The number of the second grooves 121 may also preferably be plural, for example, 2, 4, or 6, or may be 8, 10 or the like, but it is not excluded that only one is provided, and the number of the second grooves 121 may be specially set according to different merchants' requirements. One fruit receptacle is placed in each of the second grooves 121, the multiple second grooves 121 may be arranged in the fruit accommodating portion 12 in multiple rows and in multiple columns, wherein a distance between two adjacent second grooves 121 in the same row is constant, and a distance between two adjacent second grooves 121 in the same column is also constant.

Optionally, in the present embodiment, the second cover plate 122 may be of a push-pull type (for example, implemented by a slide rail), or may be of a flip type (for example, implemented by hinged connection), or may also be directly in a detachable cover type. An outer surface of the second cover plate 122 may be, for example, further provided with a grip, such as in the form of a handle, a boss, a tab, a hook or the like, to facilitate the user's operation to control the covering state of the second cover plate 122 to the fruit receptacle.

It is worth noting that, in the present disclosure, the second cover plate 122 may be a unified piece of cover plate to enable the multiple fruit receptacles to be covered or opened simultaneously, or one second cover plate 122 may be correspondingly provided for each of the fruit receptacles to control covering or opening of different fruit receptacles, respectively.

In the present embodiment, the upper chamber 21 is provided with a first partition 215 configured to divide the upper chamber 21 into a first upper chamber 211 and a second upper chamber 212 (the first partition 215 is disposed vertically along the length direction of the novel multifunctional condiment device 100), wherein the condiment accommodating portion 11 is disposed in the first upper chamber 211, and the fruit accommodating portion 12 is disposed in the second upper chamber 212.

In addition, in the actual placement, the positions of the condiment accommodating portion 11 and the fruit accommodating portion 12 in the upper chamber 21 may be reversed. For example, the condiment accommodating portion 11 is disposed in the second upper chamber 212, and the fruit accommodating portion 12 is disposed in the first upper chamber 211; or the condiment accommodating portion 11 and the fruit accommodating portion 12 are both disposed in the second upper chamber 212, that is to say, some of the multiple condiment accommodating portions 11 disposed in the first upper chamber 211 are replaced with the fruit accommodating portions 12.

The fresh-keeping portion 14 comprises a freezer 141, a first cooler 142, and a compressor 143, wherein the first cooler 142 is disposed in the freezer 141 and configured to cool the freezer 141, and the compressor 143 is connected to the first cooler 142 via an air duct 144. Here, the freezer 141 may be a container such as a refrigerator or a refrigerating cabinet configured to store materials at low temperature.

Optionally, in the present disclosure, the second upper chamber 212 comprises a first sub-chamber 2121 that is flush with the first upper chamber 211, and the fruit accommodating portion 12 is disposed above the first sub-chamber 2121. The fruit accommodating portion 12 is provided with at least one first vent hole 123, and the first partition 215 is provided with at least one second vent hole 2151.

The novel multifunctional condiment device 100 is further provided with a second cooler 145 located in the first sub-chamber 2121, and the second cooler 145 is connected to the compressor 143 via the air duct 144 and configured to cool the fruit accommodating portion 12 and the condiment accommodating portion 11 via the first vent hole 123 and the second vent hole 2151, respectively.

Optionally, one or more first vent holes 123 may be provided, and similarly, one or more second vent holes 2151 may also be provided.

Optionally, the second cooler 145 cools the fruit accommodating portion 12 and the condiment accommodating portion 11 via the first vent hole 123 and the second vent hole 2151 by means of air cooling, respectively, so that the condiment receptacles and the fruit receptacles placed in the first grooves 111 and the second grooves 121 are surrounded by low-temperature gas, which greatly improves the cooling uniformity, and thus a good cooling effect is obtained. It can be understood that it is not excluded in the present disclosure that the second cooler 145 may cool the fruit accommodating portion 12 and the condiment accommodating portion 11 respectively by means of direct cooling, for example, by using a refrigerant such as Freon, and special settings can be specifically made depending on different requirements.

In addition, two second coolers 145 may be provided, and the two second coolers 145 cool the fruit accommodating portion 12 and the condiment accommodating portion 11, respectively, whereby the requirement for separate cooling of the fruit accommodating portion 12 and the condiment accommodating portion 11 is satisfied, and each of the second coolers 145 communicates with the fruit accommodating portion 12 or the condiment accommodating portion 11, respectively.

When the two second coolers 145 are used to cool the fruit accommodating portion 12 and the condiment accommodating portion 11, respectively, the compressor 143 is connected to the first cooler 142 and each of the two second coolers 145, respectively, and a control valve, such as a solenoid valve, may be disposed between the compressor 143 and each of the first cooler 142 and the two second coolers 145, whereby it is convenient to control the temperatures of the fresh-keeping portion 14, the fruit accommodating portion 12, and the condiment accommodating portion 11, respectively.

It can be understood that when the novel multifunctional condiment device 100 has a large size, large cooling power is required. For this reason, there may be multiple compressors 143, for example, there may be three compressors 143 provided corresponding to the fresh-keeping portion 14, the fruit accommodating portion 12, and the condiment accommodating portion 11 in a one-to-one manner and configured to cool the fresh-keeping portion 14, the fruit accommodating portion 12, and the condiment accommodating portion 11, respectively; and it is also possible that two of the fresh-keeping portion 14, the fruit accommodating portion 12, and the condiment accommodating portion 11 share one compressor 143, and specific settings can be made according to actual needs.

In the present embodiments, the novel multifunctional condiment device 100 may be further provided with a table top 30 along its length direction, and the table top 30 may be made of, for example, artificial stone, quartz stone, marble, or the like. The table top 30 may cover above the first sub-chamber 2121, and the table top 30 is provided with a notch 31 configured to match with the fruit accommodating portion 12. The table top 30 can be configured to place a condiment dish configured to take condiments or a fruit dish configured to take fruit.

Correspondingly, the table top 30 is provided such that the second cover plate 122 is preferably provided in a flip type or a detachable cover type. If the first cover plate 112 is of the push-pull type, a gap configured to receive the first cover plate 112 to be pushed therein may be reserved between the table top 30 and the first sub-chamber 2121; and if the first cover plate 112 is of the flip type, one end of the first cover plate 112 may be hinged to an end of the first partition 215 that is remote from the first transverse plate 106.

Optionally, a second partition 225 is connected between the first transverse plate 106 and the bottom plate 105 of the condiment cabinet 10 (the second partition 225 is vertically disposed along the width direction of the novel multifunctional condiment device 100), the second partition 225 divides the lower chamber 22 into a first lower chamber 221 and a second lower chamber 222, wherein the disinfecting portion 13 is disposed in the first lower chamber 221, and the fresh-keeping portion 14 is disposed in the second lower chamber 222.

Optionally, the second lower chamber 222 is provided with a third partition 2225 (the third partition 2225 is vertically disposed along the length direction of the novel multifunctional condiment device 100), the third partition 2225 is configured to divide the second lower chamber 222 into a second lower front chamber 2221 and a second lower rear chamber 2222, wherein the freezer 141 is disposed in the second lower front chamber 2221, and the compressor 143 is disposed in the second lower rear chamber 2222.

An area of the back plate of the condiment cabinet 10 that is corresponding to the second lower rear chamber 2222 is provided with at least one heat-discharging hole 40.

The fresh-keeping portion 14 is provided such that, on the one hand, the freezer 141 can be cooled by the first cooler 142 and the condiment accommodating portion 11 and the fruit accommodating portion 12 can be separately cooled by the second cooler 145, and on the other hand, excess heat in the fresh-keeping portion 14 is discharged through the heat-discharging hole 40 to achieve good cooling and fresh-keeping effects.

In addition, the condiment cabinet 10 of the novel multifunctional condiment device 100 may be further provided with a first temperature controller 51, a second temperature controller 52 and a third temperature controller 53, wherein the first temperature controller 51 is configured to control the temperature of the freezer 141, the second temperature controller 52 is configured to control the temperature of the bottom of the condiment accommodating portion 11, and the third temperature controller 53 is configured to control the temperature of the bottom of the fruit accommodating portion 12, thereby obtaining a better effect of keeping the freshness of the materials stored in the freezer 141, the condiments, and the fruit.

Optionally, the first lower chamber 221 is provided with a fourth partition 2215 (the fourth partition 2215 is vertically disposed along the length direction of the novel multifunctional condiment device 100), and the fourth partition 2215 is configured to divide the first lower chamber 221 into a first lower front chamber 2211 and a first lower rear chamber 2212. The disinfecting portion 13 comprises a disinfection cabinet 131, a circulation fan 132, and a heat-generating device 133, wherein the disinfection cabinet 131 is disposed in the first lower front chamber 2211, and both the heat-generating device 133 and the circulation fan 132 are disposed in the first lower rear chamber 2212. The fourth partition 2215 is provided with at least one third vent hole 2217, and the circulation fan 132 is connected to the heat-generating device 133 and configured to supply circulating air to the disinfection cabinet 131 through the third vent hole 2217.

A bracket 1311 is disposed in the disinfection cabinet 131, and the bracket 1311 is configured to hold, at each of multiple mounting positions, a storage rack 1312, and the storage rack 1312 can be configured to place dining utensils such as bowls, chopsticks or spoons. The disinfection cabinet 131 has an opening at the front surface of the cabinet and is provided with a swing door 1313 for allowing users to pick up or return the tableware. The swing door 1313 may a double-glazed door, which facilitates the users to see the holding state in the cabinet on the one hand and also achieves a good isolation effect on the other hand.

Exemplarily, the swing door 1313 is a double swing door, which comprises an outer door 1314 and an inner door 1315 sequentially arranged from the outside to the inside. The bracket is located on a side of the inner door 1315 that is remote from the outer door 1314, and is located in a space that is really used for disinfection, storage and cleaning. Optionally, the number of the inner doors 1315 is more than that of the outer doors 1314, that is to say, a structure in which one outer door 1314 corresponds to multiple inner doors 1315 is formed, such that it is convenient for the users to take/return the tableware from/into separate zones, and thus the disinfection cabinet 131 is prevented from being contaminated due to its full opening.

Optionally, the disinfection cabinet 131 is provided with insertion slots 1316 for receiving the outer door 1314 and the inner door 1315, respectively, and the outer door 1314 and the inner door 1315 are hinged to an outer wall of the disinfection cabinet 131, and are slidably moved in and out of the insertion slots 1316. Since the outer door 1314 and the inner door 1315 have similar swing structures, only the outer door 1314 is described as an example. When it is necessary to open the outer door 1314, the outer door 1314 is rotated about its hinge shaft relative to the disinfection cabinet 131, and then slidably inserted into the insertion slot 1316, whereby the outer door 1314 is opened. During disinfection, the outer door 1314 and the inner door 1315 can be simultaneously closed to achieve a double isolation effect. After the disinfection is completed, the outer door 1314 can be opened and the inner door 1315 can be kept closed, and the inner door 1315 can be opened only when it is necessary to take and use the tableware therein, which not only facilitates access to the tableware but also avoids contamination, achieving a cleaning function.

The disinfection cabinet 131 may be further provided with a purification unit configured to purify the tableware, so that the washed tableware is sterilized and disinfected, and is further purified. The purification unit may adopt various modes, such as microwave sterilization, ozone disinfection, electron ray sterilization, magnetic sterilization, resistance heating sterilization, ultrasonic sterilization, and the like.

Exemplarily, the purification unit generates heat continuously by using a heat-generating tube (heating tube), so that the air in the disinfection cabinet 131 is kept at a high temperature to kill bacteria on the tableware. In addition, the heat-generating tube can also dry the washed tableware at the same time. Correspondingly, the disinfection cabinet 131 is connected with a circulation fan 132 and a drainage hole 60 to achieve circulation of air and recovery of residual water.

The storage rack 1312 may be of a variety of types, including one or more of a dish rack, a chopstick rack, a spoon rack, and the like. Exemplarily, the storage rack 1312 is a dish basket for holding dishes. Optionally, the dish basket has a slide rail and thus is slidably held in one mounting position to facilitate picking up or placing of the dish basket. A monolayered or stacked multi-layered dish basket may be disposed inside the disinfection cabinet according to actual needs.

As another example, the storage rack 1312 is a dish rack. The dish rack may be placed horizontally or slightly obliquely in the mounting position for holding dishes. The dish rack has a plurality of accommodating slots arranged in an array, and the accommodating slots are used for accommodating the dishes. An open end of the accommodating slot is away from the opening portion of the disinfection cabinet 131 and has an acute angle relative to the horizontal direction, so that the dishes can be placed in a dense and stable manner, the capacity of the dish rack is increased, and the rate of utilization of the space of the disinfection cabinet 131 is effectively improved.

An area of the bottom plate 105 of the condiment cabinet 10 that is corresponding to the first lower front chamber 2211 is provided with at least one drainage hole 60.

The disinfection cabinet 131 may be further provided with a timer 134 and a temperature controller 135, which are respectively configured to implement timing control and temperature control in the disinfection process to ensure a better disinfection effect.

The disinfecting portion 13 is provided such that, on the one hand, the disinfection cabinet 131 can be heated and hot air inside the disinfection cabinet 131 can be circulated by the circulation fan 132 communicating with the heat-generating device 133, and on the other hand, excess moisture in the disinfecting portion 13 can be discharged through the drainage hole 60 to achieve a good disinfection effect.

In the present embodiment, each of the peripheral wall of condiment cabinet 10, the first transverse plate 106, the first partition 215, the second partition 225, and the third partition 2225 has a cavity structure, and each cavity is filled with a heat insulating material 70 (e.g., heat insulation cotton) to reduce heat exchange between the inside and the outside. In addition, each of side walls configured to enclose and form the condiment accommodating portion 11, the fruit accommodating portion 12, the disinfecting portion 13, and the fresh-keeping portion 14 may also be provided as the heat insulating structure described above, so that the individual functional regions can be effectively maintained at their respective operating temperatures.

Optionally, in the present embodiment, the bottom plate 105 of the condiment cabinet 10 may be further provided with rollers 80 to facilitate the adjustment of the setting position of the novel multifunctional condiment device 100.

The present embodiment relates to a catering apparatus, comprising the novel multifunctional condiment device 100 according to the embodiment described above. In addition, the catering apparatus may further comprise a kitchen counter (not shown), so that the entire catering procedure is transparent and open to the consumers. Optionally, the catering apparatus may be used, for example, in a variety of restaurants. Specifically, the catering type may include hot pot, food cooked on skewers, soup pot, spicy hot pot, dry pot, barbecue, and so on.

In summary, the novel multifunctional condiment device 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has at least one of the advantages of simple structure, rich functions, simultaneously achieving the supply of condiments and fruit and the provision of disinfection and fresh-keeping functions, and a high space utilization rate. A catering apparatus comprising the novel multifunctional condiment device 100 can save the floor space, can be conveniently used, and has wide application prospects.

The above description is merely illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent alternatives, improvements and so on made within the spirit and principle of the present disclosure are to be included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A novel multifunctional condiment device and a catering apparatus according to the present disclosure have simple structures and rich functions, and can simultaneously achieve the supply of condiments and fruit and the provision of disinfection and fresh-keeping functions, have a high space utilization rate, save the floor space, and can be conveniently used. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A novel multifunctional condiment device, wherein the novel multifunctional condiment device comprises a condiment cabinet, a condiment accommodating portion, a fruit accommodating portion, a disinfecting portion, and a fresh-keeping portion, the condiment cabinet is provided with a first transverse plate configured to divide the condiment cabinet into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, both the condiment accommodating portion and the fruit accommodating portion are disposed in the upper chamber, and both the disinfecting portion and the fresh-keeping portion are disposed in the lower chamber.
 2. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 1, wherein the fresh-keeping portion comprises a freezer, a first cooler, and a compressor, the first cooler is disposed in the freezer and configured to cool the freezer, and the compressor is connected to the first cooler.
 3. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 2, wherein the upper chamber is provided with a first partition configured to divide the upper chamber into a first upper chamber and a second upper chamber, the condiment accommodating portion is disposed in the first upper chamber, and the fruit accommodating portion is disposed in the second upper chamber.
 4. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 3, wherein the second upper chamber comprises a first sub-chamber that is flush with the first upper chamber, the fruit accommodating portion is disposed above the first sub-chamber, the fruit accommodating portion is provided with at least one first vent hole, the first partition is provided with at least one second vent hole, the novel multifunctional condiment device is further provided with a second cooler located in the first sub-chamber, and the second cooler is connected to the compressor and configured to cool the fruit accommodating portion and the condiment accommodating portion via the first vent hole and the second vent hole, respectively.
 5. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 4, wherein the second cooler cools the fruit accommodating portion and the condiment accommodating portion by means of air cooling, respectively.
 6. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 3, wherein a second partition is connected between the first transverse plate and a bottom plate of the condiment cabinet, the second partition divides the lower chamber into a first lower chamber and a second lower chamber, the disinfecting portion is disposed in the first lower chamber, and the fresh-keeping portion is disposed in the second lower chamber.
 7. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 6, wherein the second lower chamber is provided with a third partition, the third partition is configured to divide the second lower chamber into a second lower front chamber and a second lower rear chamber, the freezer is disposed in the second lower front chamber, and the compressor is disposed in the second lower rear chamber.
 8. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 6, wherein the first lower chamber is provided with a fourth partition, the fourth partition is configured to divide the first lower chamber into a first lower front chamber and a first lower rear chamber, the disinfecting portion comprises a disinfection cabinet, a circulation fan, and a heat-generating device, the disinfection cabinet is disposed in the first lower front chamber, both the heat-generating device and the circulation fan are disposed in the first lower rear chamber, the fourth partition is provided with at least one third vent hole, and the circulation fan is connected to the heat-generating device and configured to supply circulating air to the disinfection cabinet through the third vent hole.
 9. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 8, wherein an area of a back plate of the condiment cabinet that is corresponding to the second lower rear chamber is provided with at least one heat-discharging hole, and an area of a bottom plate of the condiment cabinet that is corresponding to the first lower front chamber is provided with at least one drainage hole.
 10. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 1, wherein a peripheral wall of the condiment cabinet is filled with a heat insulating material.
 11. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 7, wherein each of a peripheral wall of the condiment cabinet, the first transverse plate, the first partition, the second partition, and the third partition is of a cavity structure, and each cavity is filled with the heat insulating material.
 12. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 8, wherein the disinfection cabinet is provided with a swing door, the swing door comprises an outer door and an inner door sequentially arranged from outside to inside, and the outer door and the inner door are connected to a cabinet body of the disinfection cabinet, respectively.
 13. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 12, wherein the disinfection cabinet is provided with insertion slots for receiving the outer door and the inner door, respectively, and the outer door and the inner door are hinged to an outer wall of the disinfection cabinet, and are slidably moved in and out of the insertion slots.
 14. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 8, wherein a bracket is disposed in the disinfection cabinet, and the bracket is configured to hold, at each of multiple mounting positions, a storage rack configured to store tableware.
 15. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 14, wherein the storage rack is a dish basket, and the dish basket has a slide rail and is slidably held in one mounting position.
 16. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 4, further comprising a first temperature controller, a second temperature controller, and a third temperature controller, wherein the first temperature controller is located between the freezer and the first cooler and configured to control a temperature of the freezer, the second temperature controller is located between the condiment accommodating portion and the second cooler and configured to control a temperature of the bottom of the condiment accommodating portion, and the third temperature controller is located between the fruit accommodating portion and the second cooler and configured to control a temperature of the bottom of the fruit accommodating portion.
 17. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 1, wherein the condiment accommodating portion is provided with a first groove configured to allow a condiment receptacle to be placed and a first cover plate configured to cover the condiment receptacle, and the fruit accommodating portion is provided with a second groove configured to allow a fruit receptacle to be placed and a second cover plate configured to cover the fruit receptacle.
 18. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 17, wherein the first cover plate is rotatably or slidably held on the condiment accommodating portion, and the second cover plate is rotatably or slidably held on the fruit accommodating portion.
 19. The novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the condiment cabinet is provided with rollers, and the rollers are connected to the condiment cabinet.
 20. A catering apparatus, comprising the novel multifunctional condiment device according to claim
 1. 